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(No Model.) R. J. COSTAIN.

ROLLER SKATE.

No. 337,742. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

J] 1750 rn ey N PETERS. PhomLimo r-n hur, Washinglan. D. C.

UNITED STATES- ATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. COSTAIN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOAMOS \VHITNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

SKATE.

:BPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,742 dated March 9,1886.

Application filed August 10, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. COSTAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing atHartford, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut,have invented new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which thefol lowing is a specification; reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of IO askate embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through one ofthe rollers thereof.

The object of my invention relating to roller-skates is to improve therollers with which such skates are provided, so as to prevent, in alarge degree, the vibrations of the rollers on uneven floors from beingcommunicated to the foot of the skater.

To this end the invention consists in the improvements hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Similar characters designate the same parts in each figure.

A designates the foot-rest or body of the skate; B B, respectively, theheel and toe straps, and C the hangers, secured upon the lower side ofbodyA and supporting-axles D. Each axle D is provided with one or tworollersfiV, usually loosely mounted thereon. Each roller is providedwith a central bush, 2, fit- 0 ting the axle. At one end this bush has aflange, 3, Fig. 2, and at the other end a flange or nut, at, providedwith holes 5, or with other means whereby it maybe screwed onto and offfrom the bush. The roller \V is bored larger than the tubular part ofthe bush, leaving an annular space, as at 6, which bore is enlarged ateither end to receive an elastic cushioningdisk, 8. By means of theaforesaid nut these disks 8 S are compressed against the sides of SerialNo. 174,031. (No model.)

the central part of the wheel until the said disks are sufficiently tlrmto properly support the Weight of the skater and to prevent the bushfrom coming in contact with the lower side of the bore of the wheel.

For making the disks 8, I use vulcanized india-rubber of about theconsistency ordinarily used for springs, making them of a size graduatedaccording to the size of the skate. In practice, when skating on unevenfloorsand few floors are eventhese disks permit the rollers to alwayscome to a proper bearing, thereby preventing the so rapid wearing awayof their edges. The better contact thus ob tained of the rollers on thefloor increases their holding power and enables the skater to n1aintaina better control over his movements, with less danger of accident fromlosing his foothold.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, in arollcrskate, and with the axles thereof, ofrollers, each provided intheir bores with a flanged bush smaller than their bore, and a pair ofelastic cushion ing-disks between the roller and the bush, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, in a roller-skate, and with the axles thereof, ofrollers, each provided in their bores with a bush having one fixed andone adjustable flange, and a pair of elastic cushioning-disks betweenthe rollers and the said bush, said disks being held in compression bythe said flanges, substantially as shown and described.

RICHARD J. OOSTAIN. \Vitnesses:

F. H. RICHARDS, C. O. PALMER.

